Gunbroker experience

[300meter]

Was wondering if anyone has sold a gun through Gunbroker? Just checking, don't want to get scammed or not paid. Thanks

 

[bheadboy]

i have had good sucess with the following - never ship without these steps

require postal money order, or cashiers check prior to shipping
FFL and check if the FFL is current
ship to ffl holder only after reciept of check as discribed.

never ship prior to reciept of money, do not take credit card, do not take paypal

Bob

 

[farmerjohn]

Ditto on everything Bob said. Farmer

 

[people]

Do what they said above and you will be fine.

 

[wedgy]

I have bought & sold a dozen or so guns and have never had a problem. I now list my guns with a 99 cent start price with no reserve. They get more interest and end up selling for more than others listed with a higher reserve price. Let the market determine what it's worth, plus I want it sold and don't want to relist it.
Just sold some brass too.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333145855
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=331862750

 

[ReedG]

So, what you're saying is the buyer has to trust you but you don't trust the buyer. What happens if he jumps through all your hoops and then you don't ship the item?

 

[bheadboy]

That is called mail fraud

Bob

 

[Outrider27]

What Bob said.

There has to be some trust (as in "trust but verify") on both sides for the system to work; the real shame is when either a seller or a buyer is trying to game the system and cheat the other party, as it screws up the system for everyone, at least in the short haul.

Mike

 

[normmatzen]

In some of my sales and purchases, I use a personal check and tell the recipient of the check or merchandise that I will hold shipment till check clears or, I do not mind waiting till my check clears.

I believe a personal check is safer than a certified check as the bank will immediately deposit the certified check in your account and credit you the face amount. If it is a fraudulent check you won't find out till a week or so later when your bank tries to collect on it! Then you money is taken out of the account. A personal check is now electronic from bank to bank. Your bank will know immediately if it is good.

 

[Cold Bore]

...check if the FFL is current

https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/

 

[RandyD]

I agree with Norm on using a personal check. Many of my out of state clients pay me with certified bank checks, and my bank still places a hold on the check when the amount is significant. The bank manager explained to me that many certified checks being used are fraudulent. No matter what procedure we use, the criminals will always find a way to game the system.

The ATF has a website to instantly verify a FFL https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/

 

[Bulseyetom]

I used a certified check to buy on GunBroker for years and then it got lost in the mail and it took 6 months to get my money back from the bank. I now use money orders from the Post Office. If I was worried about getting scammed I would pay to have the rifle I bought shipped from an ffl dealer to my ffl dealer and send the money to them. I guess I just trust fellow shooters. Tom

 

[mgx1138]

I have had almost universally good experiences with Gunbroker; buying and selling guns, parts and accessories. One slightly problematic transaction out of dozens, and that one was amicably resolved too.

 

[wboggs]

bheadboy has it right. Mail fraud should strike fear into anyone's heart. Once I had a seller who said he didn't get my USPS Money Order. So, I checked with the PO and it was cashed. I informed the seller that I intended to file a mail fraud charge against him if I didn't have the barrel by FED X overnight. It arrived before 11 AM the next day.
Moral of the story, use the USPS. They will spend a million dollars to prosecute a case. Involve a FFL holder and you have another layer of deep pocket protection.
Bill

 

[Cold Bore]

Moral of the story, use the USPS. They will spend a million dollars to prosecute a case.

I wouldn't be betting too heavily on that. :

 

[kelbro]

Moral of the story, use the USPS. They will spend a million dollars to prosecute a case. Involve a FFL holder and you have another layer of deep pocket protection.

Don't count on it.

 

[CT10ring]

I sell & buy on GB. Never a problem. actually perfect. amazing when you consider you are going on a description and seldom a voice to verify item....
simple - just check the feedback -
doesn't feel right? get a phone # and call.

Go with your gut. Price too low, won't return calls ( in few days),
maybe a red flag! or maybe seller is out hunting for 3 weeks in AK...?

photos are best way of determining value. We shooters have some wide variances in tolerances, and that
is hard to pin down, person to person.

I use PAYPAL 75% of the time. perfect.

my .02

best of luck.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

They will spend a million dollars to prosecute a case. Involve a FFL holder and you have another layer of deep pocket protection.
Bill

This description of how much the Postal Service cares about using them to commit mail fraud is worth a good laugh everytime I read someone stating this on the net.lol They must have changed their policy right after my ebay hosing for $400 a few years back. Went right up the chain from my local postmaster to one of their attorneys in OH named Beverly. Payed with a Postal Money Order and received unuseable parts. Seller eventually admitted he didn't know they had been altered, ebay didn't care and I still have the worthless cast iron laying in my garage(supposedly NEW lathe parts). The sweetheart 'Beverly' bascially told me to pound sand and there was nothing she could or would do!!!! So why didn't the USPS spend a "million dollars to prosecute" when I payed with a Postal Money Order????

 

[tenring]

I have sold several dozen guns on GB with no problems. I always ship USPS. If you choose USPS be sure to buy the correct insurance value. They broke stocks on two 50 year old Sako rifles I sold. Read their rules: Pack properly, in a heavy box, take photos, keep your receipts. It took me 4 months to be paid by USPS and they kept the broken rifles.

 

[mikeinct]

Can I ask how you guys use credit cards when it is not to a business?..To help avoid a fraudulent seller ? I've sold a few guns on gunbroker..One guy wanted to pay my local gun store w a credit card..The fees were silly 4 % ? Can someone explain this better..thanks, mike in ct .PS .I use bank checks when buying, maybe not a good idea?..I'd like to hear more about this??